if you're just doing light offroading you'll probably never use either. lockers you can always add on later in the aftermarket. you're fj will be cheaper right off the bat but will also not have a very high resale value. but who really cares about resale value around here right?? bottom line - no you dont need them. are they cool and helpful? hellz yea!!! another bottom line - you really need to worry about the tires before the lockers or atrac - the stock tires suck for any trail.

 

...but will also not have a very high resale value.

caliFJ, has this been your experience? I ask because when I got my FZJ80, the presence/absence of front and rear OEM lockers didn't affect the price. Maybe it's a regional thing.

 

it will be just as useless as all the 4x4s that were built years ago before the current trend of factory lockers caught on (around 1997, for light duty toyota trucks). its nice to have one, but realistically it wont be an issue if you arent going to be doing anything too difficult.

alternately, the rear locker is a $340 stand alone option, so it would almost be silly not to get it.... my 0.02

 

You'll be just fine. ATRAC, from what i've heard, only works in 4LO anyway. So you'll have to be doing major rockclimbing or offroading for it to be useful. Rear locker you'll rarely use, but to get unstuck. You'll not need to worry about getting stuck if you're sticking to light off road trails. 4x4Hi and 4LO are plenty. The FJ without ATRAC and rear diff is still more capable than most off road, especially with the high clearance and good approach and departure angles.

Only a small % of people who go to buy these used will be looking for these things in specific. Many will not know what they are, much less how to use them. Save your money for accessories and be glad you don't have to pay for things you're not lkely going to use.

 

Thanks all, I appreciate the information. It's too late to add the stuff as I already ordered the FJ and don't feel like having to wait again -- seems like I'll be all right then for what I want to do with it.

 

I wheeled for years without lockers
yes, having traction controling devices makes the machine better offroad
however
Jeep
rover
landcrusier
3 of the biggest names offroad, all made their reputations with open diffs.
such as you have
and actually, you have an advantage, withopen diffs you are going have to learn to wheel properly and pick the best lines. lockers help in more diffacult terrain but in simple terrain they just make stupid lines easy, so in the long run you will be better off as you will have to learn basics
kinda like- In high school pocket calculators were first comming out andwe were not allowed to use them, I can do algebra in my head quicker than coworkers do it on caculators.

 

and actually, you have an advantage, withopen diffs you are going have to learn to wheel properly and pick the best lines. lockers help in more diffacult terrain but in simple terrain they just make stupid lines easy, so in the long run you will be better off as you will have to learn basics
kinda like- In high school pocket calculators were first comming out andwe were not allowed to use them, I can do algebra in my head quicker than coworkers do it on caculators.

That is one of the best post I seen in a while. I can only concur.

 

I don't really plan on doing any hardcore offroading but it might be nice to do some easy to moderate trails every once in a while -- will this be possible without ATRACT and/or rear differential lock?

Certainly. May be useful to get a high-lift and some synthetic winch rope and learn how to use them to get unstuck. Learning beeing the key part.

You can install a rear locker later, if you find out you have to whip out winch/hi lift more then a few times. Front one - may be dangerous to use, especially with IFS, until you know what to expect. You only need them once in a while if for moderate stuff. One may wish it was easy to enable ATRAC to work alongside the rear locker - best of both worlds... Or get an ARB or another bumper with a winch, if that looks the preferred way to bypass a trouble spot or two.

Another point is that is rather easy to bang up rocker panels even on easy trails. Rock rails will be helful (and provide help if recovery is needed). Buy a pair online and bolt them on.

Highbeam is spot on about learning to pick the best lines. Just make sure you can get out if you fail. And that includes having clothing, food and emergency medical kit in your car everytime you are off the highway.

 

I am looking for information on the A TRAC option. I read that all FJs were built with the A TRAC option in place, but some were put together without the swith (4x4 with out the locker and A TRAC option), even though they have the connection for the A TRAC just hidden behind the switch cover. IS THIS TRUE? Does any one know anything about this, because it that is true, all we (4x4 with no locker or A TRAC option) have to do is buy the switch and plug it in. Any info will be appreciated.
Thanks

 

It is very well doccumented that the FJs built without a locker also do not have the right components for the Atrac to work.
Adding an A-trac switc to a non-locked FJ gives you a nice clicky thing on the dash.

 

Ok, this is old history and Im in it. If you get an FJ without rear locker you wont be able to get the A-TRAC even if you plug the switch. Only you can make Atrac work by plugging the switch if your FJ came with the rear locker feature.
I know it because I bought my FJ without Atrac nor rear locker (that was the way Toyota Of Puerto Rico ordered the FJ) and I bought the Atrac button and nothing happened, and then I also bought the rear locker button and also nothing happened. I just have the buttons there to light up at night.

 

When you installed either switch did the A-Trac light or the reardiff light come on?

 

I installed my switch after purchase and had rear diff...I just always wondered if the dash light was proof positive that A-trac was actually working.

 

You can proof that by taking it to a wet inclinated area and see if front tires act like if you were braking with ABS.

Although, this had been tested by others and they claims that it works. Not in my case because I dont have rear locker.

 

Sometimes when going through muddy terrain, it is helpful to keep the wheels spinning to "dig" down to solid ground for traction. Traction Control will keep the wheels from spinning (and is "on" all the time). ATRAC allows you to turn off Traction Conrol when you don't want/need it (in 4Low). ATRAC is nothing more than an "off swich."

 

WRONG! ATRAC is a different system than trac. Trac is off when you lock the transfer case. You might want to read up on this.

You will know when ATRAC is doing its job from the sound.

And in regards to the stock tires. If you have ATRAC, They work ok. They may suck in comparison to really good tires but i am stock and have Wheeled and even climed texas gumbo with the stock tires in the rain.

My Opinion from MY Experience....The system works very well.

 

DUDE for $350 or what ever the tiny cost is for the rear locker? GET IT! you can add the ATRAC switch later for $50 bucks and have both.